Contralateral Needling Research Articles

Clinical observation on post-stroke oculomotor nerve palsy treated with the interaction of twelve meridian muscle regions and contralateral needling therapy

To observe the clinical effect on post-stroke oculomotor nerve palsy treated with the interaction of twelve meridian muscle regions and contralateral needling therapy. A total of 46 patients with post-stroke oculomotor nerve palsy were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 23 cases in each one. In the control group, the intramusclar injection of mecobalamine at the buttock region was given, 1 mL each time, once every two days, 3 times weekly. Besides, citicoline sodium capsules were prescribed for oral administration, 0.2 g each time, 3 times daily. In the observation group, on the base of the treatment as the control group, the interaction of twelve meridian muscle regions and contralateral needling therapy was supplemented. Acupoints on the health sides included Juliao (ST 3) and Hanyan (GB 4), acupoints on the affected side included Jingming (BL 1), Sibai (ST 2), Yangbai (GB 14), Cuanzhu (BL 2), Shangming (Extra), Sizhukong (TE 23), Tongziliao (GB 1) and bilateral Fengchi (GB 20), Quchi (LI 11), Pianli (LI 6), Waiguan (TE 5), Hegu (LI 4) were selected. The needles were retained for 30 min in each acupuncture treatment, once a day, 5 times weekly. The treatment for 4 weeks was required in the two groups. Before and after treatment, the score of cervical range of motion (CROM), pupil size, eye fissure width and eyeball mobility were observed in the patients of the two groups. The clinical effect was evaluated in the two groups. After treatment, CROM scores and pupil size were reduced in the patients of the two groups (P<0.05), and the values in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). The eye fissure width and eyeball mobility were increased in the two groups (P<0.05), the eye fissure width and the mobility of the muscles of rectus internus, inferior rectus and inferior oblique in the observation group were larger than the control group (P<0.05). The effective rate was 82.6% (19/23) in the observation group, higher than 65.2% (15/23) in the control group (P<0.05). The interaction of twelve meridian muscle regions and contrallateral needling therapy effectively relieves diplopia, pupil dilation, narrow eye fissure and limited eyeball mobility in the patients with post-stroke oculomotor nerve palsy.

Effect of the contralateral needling therapy on post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome

To observe the effect contralateral needling of in improving pain, edema and limb dysfunction in stroke patients with shoulder-hand syndrome. A total of 62 patients with post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome were divided into a control group and an observation group, 31 cases in each one. The routine treatment with internal medicine and rehabilitation manipulation was adopted in the two groups. Additionally, the routine acupuncture treatment was used in the control group and the contralateral needling techniques was applied in the observation group. The needles were retained for 30 min. The treatment was given once a day for 5 days a week and consecutively for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the score of the modified Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (FMA scale), the score of the visual analogue scale (VAS), the score of the hand edema rating and the score of the modified Barthel index (ADL score) were evaluated. The total effective rate was 90.32% (28/31) in the observation group and was 67.74% (21/31) in the control group. The effective rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). VAS score, the score of the hand edema rating, FMA score and ADL score were obviously improved as compared with those before treatment in each group and the scores in the observation group were better than those of the control group (P<0.05). The contralateral needling therapy of acupuncture is effective for relieving pain and edema as well as improving the motor function of the affected limb in the patients with post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome.

Clinical research on mild and moderate carpal tunnel syndrome treated with contralateral needling technique at distal acupoints and acupuncture at local acupoints

To compare the differences in the clinical therapeutic effects on mild and moderate carpal tunnel syndrome between the combined therapy of regular acupuncture and contralateral needling technique at distal acupoints and the regular acupuncture. Sixty patients of mild and moderate carpal tunnel syndrome were divided into an observation group and a control group according to random number table, 30 cases in each one. Laogong (PC 8), Daling (PC 7), Neiguan (PC 6), Yuji (LU 10) and Hegu (LI 4) were selected on the affected side in the two groups. In the observation group, the reducing needling technique with lifting and thrusting was applied at first to Taichong (LR 3) and Zhongfeng (LR 4) on the opposite side and afterwards those on the affected side were stimulated. In the control group, acupuncture was given at the acupoints on the affected side. The even-needling technique was used at the acupoints on the affected side in the patients of the two groups. Acupuncture was given once every day, 30 min each time. The treatment for 10 days was as one session. The therapeutic effects were evaluated after 3 sessions. The changes in median nerve electrophysiology, Levine's carpal tunnel syndrome questionnaire, the patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE) and the evaluation of therapeutic effects were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. The total effective rate was 90.0% (27/30) in the observation group, better than 70.0% (21/30) in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the nerve sensory conduction velocity and the amplitude of median nerve were all increased in the two groups, indicating the significant differences (all P<0.05). The increase in the observation group was more apparent than that in the control group (all P<0.05). The symptom severity score (SSS) and function status score (FSS) were all reduced apparently after treatment in the two groups (both P<0.05). SSS and FSS in the observation group were lower apparently than those in the control group after treatment (both P<0.05). PRWE score after treatment was reducedapparently as compared with that before treatment in the two groups (both P<0.05). The result in the observation group was lower than that in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). The combined treatment of regular acupuncture technique and the contralateral needling technique at distal acupoints achieves the definite therapeutic effects on mild and moderate carpal tunnel syndrome, apparently superior to the regular needling technique.

Professor WU Zhongchao's experience in the treatment of bi syndrome with fire needling therapy at lower he-sea points

Bi syndrome is classified into five categories. Based on the syndrome differentiation of meridians and collaterals and zangfu theories, Professor WU Zhongchao proposed the fire needling therapy at the lower he-sea points for five types of bi syndromes. Professor WU stresses on the flexible application of fire needling therapy for bi syndrome at the lower he-sea points and innovated the unique five techniques of fire needling therapy, named lifting and threating needle of small amplitude at the lower he-sea points, the stimulation along the relevant meri-dians before fire needling, detecting the sensitive sites by gentle pressing the relevant lower he-sea points, combining the movement of affected upper limb or joint during fire needling, or combining with contralateral needling technique, and controlling the depth of fire needling based on the duration of sickness and depth of affected site. He pointed out that Shangjuxu (ST 37) is for skin bi syndrome, Zusanli (ST 36) for muscle bi syndrome, Yanglingquan (GB 34) for tendon bi syndrome, Weizhong (BL 40) for bone bi syndrome and Xiajuxu (ST 39) for vessel bi syndrome.

Contralateral needling at unblocked collaterals for hemiplegia following acute ischemic stroke.

Hemiplegia caused by stroke indicates dysfunction of the network between the brain and limbs, namely collateral shock in the brain. Contralateral needling is the insertion of needles into acupoints on the relative healthy side of the body to treat diseases such as apoplexy. However, there is little well-designed and controlled clinical evidence for this practice. This study investigated whether contralateral needling could treat hemiplegia after acute ischemic stroke in 106 randomly selected patients with acute ischemic stroke. These patients were randomly assigned to three groups: 45 in the contralateral needling group, receiving acupuncture on the unaffected limbs; 45 in the tional acupuncture group, receiving acupuncture on the hemiplegic limbs; and 16 in the control group, receiving routine treatments without acupuncture. Acupuncture at acupoints Chize (LU5) in the upper limb and Jianliao (TE14) in the lower limb was performed for 45 minutes daily for 30 consecutive days. The therapeutic effective rate, Neurological Deficit Score, Modified Barthel Index and Fugl-Meyer Assessment were evaluated. The therapeutic effective rate of contralateral needling was higher than that of conventional acupuncture (46.67% vs. 31.11%, P < 0.05). The neurological deficit score of contralateral needling was significantly decreased compared with conventional acupuncture (P < 0.01). The Modified Barthel Index and Fugl-Meyer Assessment score of contralateral needling increased more significantly than those of conventional acupuncture (both P < 0.01). The present findings suggest that contralateral needling unblocks collaterals and might be more effective than conventional acupuncture in the treatment of hemiplegia following acute ischemic stroke.

Clinical observation on acupuncture treatment for post-stroke spastic hemiplegia

Objective To observe the clinical effect of contralateral needling plus rehabilitation for post-stroke spastic hemiplegia.

Contra-Lateral Needling in the Treatment of Hemiplegia Due to Acute Ischemic Stroke

Contra-lateral Needling, a traditional acupuncture technique, means contra-lateral acupuncture by inserting needles into acupoints on the relative healthy side of the body opposite to the injured side to treat diseases such as apoplexy with high efficacy. However, there are not many well-designed and controlled clinical evidences found in the literature. Therefore the present study was designed to assess its therapeutic responses in the treatment of hemiplegia due to acute ischemic stroke. A clinical study was conducted with randomly selected 106 patients who have acute ischemic stroke confirmed by MRI. The subjects were assigned into 3 groups: 45 in the contra-lateral needling group received acupuncture on the unaffected limbs; 45 in the conventional acupuncture group received acupuncture on the hemiplegic limbs; and 16 in the non-acupuncture group received the similar medical and nursing care as subjects in other two groups but no acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture was given daily for 45 minutes for 30 days. The clinical therapeutic responses rate, Neurological Deficits Score (NDS), Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Fugl-Meger Assertion (FMA) were used to evaluate the effectiveness of 30 days treatment. The therapeutic response rate of the contra-lateral needling group was 46.67%, while 31.11% in the conventional acupuncture group, and 18.75% in the non-acupuncture group. The NDS of Contra-lateral needling group decreased more significantly than that of the conventional acupuncture group (p < 0.01). The study also found that the MBI and FMA of Contra-lateral needling group increased more significantly than those of the conventional acupuncture group (p < 0.01, respectively). Contra-lateral needling might be more effective than the conventional acupuncture in the treatment of hemiplegia due to acute ischemic stroke in terms of increasing the recovery of neurological functions, promoting ADL (activities for daily living) rehabilitation and the limbs motor function.

Contralateral needling method and its applications in treating upper-limb pain

Contralateral needling method and its applications in treating upper-limb pain

Clinical characteristics of cerebral apoplexy and treatment analysis of Great Acupuncture

Great Acupuncture is a special method to treat stroke patients on the relative health side, which reflects the whole view of the traditional Chinese medicine. With more and more clinical controlled trials reported recently, the origin, development and possible mechanisms of great acupuncture are worthy discussed for providing a neoteric method to treat cerebral apoplexy. The differences of great acupuncture and contralateral collateral needling were analyzed in this paper. Indications and attentions of great acupuncture were also summarized. Through comparing between the treatment of cerebral apoplexy by the great acupuncture and related techniques of the modern neurological rehabilitation, we found that the modern rehabilitation techniques focused on promoting the activities of the injured limbs, which might be much weaker in therapeutic intensity than great acupuncture. Therefore we believed that the concept of the great acupuncture of the traditional Chinese medicine is much advanced. Key words: Cerebral apoplexy; Great acupuncture; Clinical characteristics; Therapeutic analysis

Treatment of 53 cases of acute lumbar muscle strain by contralateral needling

To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of the method of once contralateral needling in treating acute lumbar muscle strain. Fifty-three cases of acute lumbar muscle strain were treated by the method of puncturing Feiyang (BL 58), Shenshu (BL 23) and Weizhong (BL 40) on the affected side. After one treatment, 18 cases were cured, 29 cases got improvement and the total effect was 88.7%. The contrelateral needling in treating acute lumbar muscle strain had marked effect and was easy to be done.

Treatment of periarthritis of shoulder by contralateral needling

Treatment of periarthritis of shoulder by contralateral needling